Zaldy Co confident Senate will uncover truth behind budget insertion, flood control mess

Former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has expressed confidence that the Senate, not the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), will ultimately uncover the truth in the budget insertion and flood control projects mess.

- BY ELLSON QUISMORIO and DHEL NAZARIO

In Part 2 of his series of video exposés on the alleged massive corruption in the Marcos administration, Co challenged Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla to do his job and go after the President himself.

But in a somewhat condescending manner, Co said that he knows Remulla won't answer his challenge.

"Nanawagan din po ako sa Senado na imbestigahan ang P100-billion insertion ni Presidente (I also call on the Senate to investigate the President's P100-billion insertion), Co said in the particular video message posted on Saturday, Nov. 15.

"Alam ko po na hindi gagawin ni Ombudsman Remulla ang hamon ko, pero magaling ang Senado sa imbestigasyon at ako ay naniniwala na dahil sa kanila, lalabas ang katotohanan," he added. (I know that Ombudsman Remulla will not take up my challenge, but the Senate is good at investigations, and I believe that because of them, the truth will come out.)

The Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, has been investigating the flood control projects corruption scandal on and off for months.

On the other hand, the ICI-formed by President Marcos himself through Executive Order (EO) No.94--has been probing and holding closed-door hearings on the controversy more consistently since midSeptember.

However, it was the Ombudsman that Co asked to step up, not the ICI, which had been acting as a special investigator on the flood control projects mess.